Imagine turning patients away because you don’t have surgical gloves to treat them, or not being able to perform life-altering surgery on a child because you don’t have the correct instruments or supplies. This happens every day in places around the world. But you can help to change that.

The AAO-HNSF is spearheading a medical supplies and device donation drive in conjunction with the AAO-HNSF 2018 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience. This humanitarian effort, which runs from now through December 31, 2018, is being done in collaboration with MedShare, a 501c(3) humanitarian aid organization headquartered in Atlanta, GA, dedicated to improving the “quality of life of people, communities and our planet” by sourcing and directly delivering surplus medical supplies and equipment to communities in need around the world.

The AAO-HNSF OtolaryngologyUnited for Global Patient Care initiative encourages members to contribute to this donation effort, which is crucial to supplying much-needed medical equipment and supplies to underserved communities around the world.

How do I donate?

There are a number of ways you can contribute:

If you are attending the Annual Meeting, bring your donation with you and drop it off at the MedShare booth in the OTO Experience. MedShare will be collecting donations each day of the OTO Experience, October 7-9, and will provide you with tax deduction information.

If you are not able to attend the Annual Meeting or prefer to make your donation directly to one of the MedShare facilities, three donations centers will take donations on behalf of the AAO-HNSF Otolaryngology United for Global Patient Care initiative. Just complete the online form and be sure to indicate that this is part of the AAO-HNSF drive. You can ship to or drop off your donation at any of the following centers:

In an April 2018 Bulletin article about his own global outreach efforts, Eugene N. Myers, MD, Past President of the AAO-HNS/F and founding AAO-HNSF International Coordinator, said, “Help is always needed in hospitals and clinics around the world, and we need to encourage ways to provide that assistance. Not only do we have to get the word out that being generous and being a humanitarian feels good, but we have to inform members that there are mechanisms by which doctors can be generous and partake in these humanitarian efforts. The new device donation initiative through the AAO-HNSF is a good start. I admire what the Academy is doing.”

This sentiment is at the heart of this endeavor, initiated by the AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Efforts Committee. However, the involvement and participation of the entire specialty is needed for it to succeed. Please review the following information to consider your donation. If you have any questions, please contact humanitarian@entnet.org.

The need grows every day, and as MedShare states in its 2017 Annual Report, “Because you care, we can improve quality of life.”

According to the World Health Organization, in the developing world, over 10 million children under the age of five die from inadequate medical care every year. At the same time, hospitals in the United States generate over two million tons of medical waste each year. Much of that waste is unused, unexpired medical supplies and equipment. (Source: Healthcare Without Harm)

Why did the AAO-HNSF Humanitarian Efforts Committee select MedShare as the 2018 Annual Meeting recipient of this humanitarian effort?

The Annual Meeting is always a time for global connection among healthcare professionals from around the world. The initiative to collect donated medical supplies and devices aligns directly with the work and focus of AAO-HNS/F, its members, and the global specialty to serve patients. AAO-HNSF selected MedShare as the 2018 Annual Meeting outreach recipient because of its history in reaching underserved populations and the extent, depth, and impact of its work, as well as its location in Atlanta, the host city of the AAO-HNSF 2018 Annual Meeting & OTO Experience.

Over the last 20 years, MedShare has:

Collected over $207 million worth of life-saving medical supplies and equipment

Diverted over 3.6 million cubic feet of reusable medical products from local landfills

Received medical supplies and equipment from hundreds of hospitals and corporations

This collaboration allows multiple ways for Academy members, attendees, and non-attendees to get involved in this crucial effort.

Who will the donations serve?

Your donations allow MedShare to continue its efforts to strengthen local health systems and increase the capacity to treat millions of patients in medically underserved areas. To date, the organization has delivered lifesaving medical supplies to 100 countries and territories worldwide and has provided biomedical training and support to over 6,200 healthcare professionals in 18 countries on equipment delivered to healthcare facilities.

Donations for this initiative will be accepted by MedShare through December 31, 2018. But don’t delay. Join the Otolaryngology United for Global Patient Care effort of humanitarian giving and make your donation to MedShare today!